Russia plans nuclear weapons exercises after angry discussions with Western officials

Russia said on Monday it plans to hold exercises to simulate the use of nuclear weapons on the battlefield, amid rising tensions senior Western officials about the possibility of a deeper involvement in the war in Ukraine.

The announcement came on the eve of Russian President Vladimir Putin’s presidential elections inauguration for a fifth term in office and in a week when Moscow celebrates Victory Day on Thursday, the most important secular holiday marking Nazi Germany’s defeat in World War II.

The exercises are in response to “provocative statements and threats made by certain Western officials regarding the Russian Federation,” the Defense Ministry said in a statement.

It was the first time Russia has publicly announced exercises involving tactical nuclear weapons, although its strategic nuclear forces conduct regular exercises. Tactical nuclear weapons include aerial bombs, short-range missile warheads, and artillery ammunition and are intended for use on a battlefield. They are less powerful than the strategic weapons – huge nuclear warheads that arm intercontinental ballistic missiles and are intended to destroy entire cities.

The Russian announcement was a warning to Ukraine’s Western allies against becoming more deeply involved in the two-year war, in which Kremlin forces have gained the upper hand amid Ukraine’s manpower and weapons shortages. Some of Ukraine’s Western partners have previously expressed concerns that the conflict outside Ukraine could spiral into a war between NATO and Russia.

French President Emmanuel Macron reiterated last week that he would not rule out sending troops to Ukraine, and British Foreign Secretary David Cameron said Kiev’s forces could use British long-range weapons to attack targets in Russia. Some other NATO countries supplying weapons to Kiev have rejected that option.

The Kremlin labeled these comments as dangerous, increasing tension between Russia and NATO. The war has already put significant strain on relations between Moscow and the West.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said Monday that Macron’s recent statement and other comments from British and American officials prompted the nuclear exercises.

“It is a new round of escalation,” Peskov said, referring to what the Kremlin considered provocative statements. “It is unprecedented and requires special attention and special measures.”

The Russian Foreign Ministry summoned both the French and British ambassadors.

Swedish Foreign Minister Tobias Billström said the nuclear exercises “contribute to increasing instability.”

“In the current security situation, Russia’s actions can be considered particularly irresponsible and reckless,” Billström told Swedish news agency TT.

Dmitry Medvedev, deputy head of Russia’s Security Council, chaired by Putin, said in his typically aggressive manner that Macron and Cameron’s comments risked pushing the nuclear-armed world toward a “global catastrophe.”

It was not the first time that European military support for Ukraine led to nuclear saber-rattling. In March 2023, following Britain’s decision to supply Ukraine with depleted uranium armor-piercing shells, Putin said he plans to deploy tactical nuclear weapons on the territory of Ukraine, neighboring Belarus.

The ministry said the exercise is intended to “increase the readiness of non-strategic nuclear weapons to perform combat tasks” and will take place on Putin’s orders. The maneuvers will involve missile units from the Southern Military District, along with the air force and navy, the report said.

The Russian announcement caused little reaction in Ukraine, where Military Intelligence spokesman Andrii Yusov said on national television: “Nuclear blackmail is a common practice of Putin’s regime; it is not important news.”

Western officials have blamed Russia for threatening a wider war through provocative acts. The NATO countries said yes last week are deeply concerned through a campaign of hybrid activities on the military alliance’s territory, accusing Moscow of backing them and saying they pose a security threat.

Peskov dismissed these claims as “new, unfounded accusations against our country.”

Germany said this on Monday his ambassador shouted back to Russia for a week of consultations in Berlin after an alleged computer hack by Chancellor Olaf Scholz’s party.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian drones struck two vehicles in Russia’s Belgorod region on Monday, killing six people and injuring 35 others, including two children, local authorities said. The area has been hit by Kiev’s forces in recent months.

One of the vehicles was a minibus carrying farm workers, Belgorod Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said.

It was not possible to independently confirm the report.

While the Ukrainian army is largely stuck on the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line due to a shortage of troops and ammunition after more than two years of fighting, it has used its long-range firepower to hit targets deep inside Russia.

In what has largely been a war of attrition, Russia has also relied heavily on long-range missiles, artillery and drones to wreak havoc on Ukraine.

Kremlin forces continued their bombardment of Ukraine’s power grid, with a nighttime Russian drone strike targeting energy infrastructure in Ukraine’s northern Sumy region. Several towns and villages in the region, including Sumy, lost power, regional authorities said.

Russia attacked Ukrainian targets with 13 Shahed drones, 12 of which were intercepted in the Sumy region, the Ukrainian air force said.

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